Bio/resume

Brian Smith is an experienced story artist as well as an Annie nominated writer and director.

Brian studied fine art at the University of Cincinnati’s DAAP program and cinema at The Ohio State University film school. He joined independent animation studio Character Builders in its first year and quickly emerged as one of the company’s top animators, character designers and story artists, eventually becoming an award winning commercial director and vice-president of the company.

He storyboarded on such classic television shows as Ren & Stimpy, the Emmy-winning HBO series Happily Ever After and Steven Spielberg’s Invasion America. His early feature experience included character animation for Paramount’s cult-classic Bebe’s Kids, New Line’sSwan Princess, and Warner Bros.’ The Quest for Camelot. As a key contributor to Space Jam he created character designs, developed storyboards, and was a lead animator on Bugs Bunny.

Subsequently, Brian supervised the story team for Disney’s highly successful feature TheLittle Mermaid II. He then co-wrote and directed the critical hit101 Dalmatians II, which earned him a Best Screenplay Annie nomination and for which he won a Best Director Video Premiere Award. He next co-wrote and directed Tarzan II , which also earned multiple Annie nominations. Brian’s had the pleasure of directing Jason Alexander, Brad Garrett, Ron Perlman, Barry Bostwick, George Carlin, Martin Short and Oscar nominee Glenn Close among many others.

Brian has been a story consultant on features for studios including 20th Century Fox/Hot Donut and Sprite Animation (Final Fantasy.) He’s completed the screenplay for an independent feature being produced by David Lovegren (Hoodwinked) as well as developed a feature concept for producer David Stainton (former Head of Disney Feature Animation.)

Recently, Brian was lead story artist as well as a script consultant on the independent feature Wishbeing produced by Prana Studios (Tinkerbell and Planes franchises) and directed by Cory Edwards (Hoodwinked) He also wrote, boarded and edited several short teasers designed to promote the film.

Currently, Brian is working with a partnership of Chinese studios co-writing and directing the development of an animated feature based on his own concept.

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Brian Smith

Features & Television:

Joyspoon Animation (2015-present) Currently in development co-writing and directing a feature based on my concept.

Wish (2014) Lead story artist for this feature being produced by Prana Studios (Tinkerbell and Planes franchises) and directed by Cory Edwards (Hoodwinked) Additionally, wrote, boarded and edited several short teasers designed to promote the film.

Yopadops (Adaptive Studios 2013) worked for director Cory Edwards (Hoodwinked) on conceptual character designs for this series in development

Tim and Space (2012) Drew beat boards and designs for this sci-fi/comedy series in development

The Ransom ofHansel And Gretel (2010) Feature development for producer David Stainton (former head Disney Feature Animation)

Oz 3D (2008-2009) Co-wrote screenplay for producer David Lovegren (Hoodwinked) slated for production at Arc/Starz

Sprite Entertainment (2007) Story consultant on multiple feature projects including adaptations of the popular comic Gon and the classic folktale Journey to the West

Fishman (20th Century Fox/Hot Donut Prod. 2006) Story consultant on feature development

Pigs Might Fly (Disney 2005, unproduced) Writer/director in development for what was to be Disneytoons first planned original feature, based on the book by Babe author Dick King-Smith